Brazilian prosecutors are opening a formal probe against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula, as he is widely known, is being investigated for influence peddling to help construction giant Odebrecht.

But it may not be the former president who suffers most from the investigation. Former President Lula, left office in 2010 as Brazil’s most popular president ever, with an approval rating of nearly 90%.

Brazilian prosecutors investigate former president Lula for corruption

Brazilian prosecutors investigate former president Lula for corruption

Brazilian prosecutors are opening a formal probe against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula, as he is widely known, is being investigated for influence peddling to help construction giant Odebrecht.

One of the founders of the ruling Workers party and one of the country’s most influential politicians is under investigation for alleged corruption.Brazilian prosecutors, who ordered the arrest of the construction giant Odebretch CEO, last month, along with other top executives, announced Thursday a probe into possible influence peddling by Lula to help the company with foreign leaders.

Odebrecht is at the heart of the Petrobras scandal, Brazil’s state owned oil company, for inflating contracts and paying bribes to politicians, mainly to Lula’s Workers Party, but also contracts in Africa and the Caribbean. Lula is being investigated for influence and trafficking after he left office. The probe adds pressure to President Rousseff, whose approval rating is just nine percent.

Lula’s Institute, a non-profit organization, issued a statement saying,”the Lula Institute is certain of the transparency and legality of ex-president Lula’s activities.” Yet, some analysts say the investigation will impact Odebretch and could increase calls for her impeachment.